Tajanay A. Samuels was 19 when she was fatally shot on May 28, 2020, in South Chicago. She and another 19-year-old woman, Antwainisha Bratcher, were sitting in a parked vehicle in the 8700 block of South Essex Avenue at about 8:36 p.m. when an unknown assailant opened fire. Tajanay was struck in the back and hand; Antwainisha was shot in the head. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the victims.

Area Two detectives are investigating the double homicide, but no arrests or suspects have been announced. Tajanay’s funeral was held at New Beginnings Church in Chicago; the deaths have been cited by family and community members as part of the city’s broader gun violence problem. If anyone has information that could assist the investigation, please contact detectives working the case.